The defense is expected to rest by noon Wednesday, Judge John Cleland said Monday in the Bellefonte, Pa., courtroom, with closing arguments Thursday. A verdict by the end of the week “seems possible,” The Post’s Joel Achenbach writes.

Sandusky’s lawyer, Joe Amendola, had said that Sandusky would be called to testify, but Tuesday morning he wasn’t tipping his hand. “Stay tuned,” he told reporters who inquired as he entered the courthuse. “It’s like a soap opera. If I tell you, it takes all the excitement out of it.”

The trial resumes at 9 a.m. EDT. See real-time updates after the jump and follow The Post’s Joel Achenbach and Jenna Johnson on Twitter for updates. Warning: testimony is likely to continue to be graphic and disturbing.

Other possible witnesses could include Sandusky’s wife, Dottie, and an expert who would testify about histrionic personality disorder, which characterized by erratic emotions and inappropriate sexual behavior.

On Monday, Amendola sought to show that communal showers were part of the culture of sports in which Sandusky existed in State College, Pa. Former colleagues testified that it was not unusual for Penn State coaches and boys to shower together in the locker room’s public showers, a revelation that drew “hushed whispers” in the courtroom (via Pennlive.com and Sara Ganim) and quickly became a hot topic on Twitter.

Dick Anderson, a former Nittany Lions offensive line coach, and Booker T. Brooks, a former receivers and tight ends coach, testified that they shower with boys, and saw nothing strange about Sandusky doing the same. Both coaches, however, drew the line at physical contact.

Cindy Boren arrived at The Post in 2000 as an assignment editor in charge of baseball and NFL/Redskins coverage. She switched to full-time writing, focusing on national sports stories and issues, when she founded The Early Lead blog in 2010.